😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $920 in Long Mountain, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,487 in Long Mountain, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,054 in Long Mountain, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 37% more than Long Mountain, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Long Mountain are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Long Mountain31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$6.41MUR 300
82.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$33.32MUR 1,561
25.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$7.00MUR 328
50.14%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$1.36MUR 63.5
163.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$0.95MUR 44.42
58.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$0.60MUR 28.13
53.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$2.05MUR 95.9
44.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$2.70MUR 126
63.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$1.50MUR 70.5
-6.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.21MUR 9.82
795.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$1.32MUR 62.0
18.18%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$2.31MUR 108
12.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$11.68MUR 547
-28.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$3.93MUR 184
112.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$7.75MUR 363
40.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$1.96MUR 91.8
38.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$1.84MUR 86.4
-17.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$1.48MUR 69.4
26.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$1.64MUR 76.8
33.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$1.02MUR 47.78
82.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$1.01MUR 47.54
120.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$0.79MUR 37.11
35.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.64MUR 29.75
70.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$6.71MUR 314
-37.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$6.30MUR 295
65.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$1.66MUR 77.8
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$2.25MUR 105
16.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$1.04MUR 48.88
-48.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$4.31MUR 202
-28.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$2.60MUR 122
-7.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$20.05MUR 939
-84.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.42MUR 66.5
-7.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$36.3KMUR 1.7M
-17.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$28.7KMUR 1.3M
-18.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$48.56MUR 2,275
67.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$11.04MUR 517
104.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$33.97MUR 1,591
-11.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$38.63MUR 1,809
36.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$17.56MUR 823
4.73%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$5.90MUR 276
-16.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$155MUR 7,260
29.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$866MUR 40.5K
497.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$32.92MUR 1,542
9.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$44.46MUR 2,082
-9.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$65.5MUR 3,067
21.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$66.4MUR 3,112
30.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$505MUR 23.7K
93.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$356MUR 16.7K
32.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$939MUR 44.0K
75.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$713MUR 33.4K
68.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$3,742MUR 175.3K
5.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$3,114MUR 145.9K
112.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
$1,059MUR 49.6K
-36.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.67
71.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Last update for Long Mountain: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $505 in Long Mountain. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 57% higher in Long Mountain, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $33.00 in Long Mountain. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $186 – making Long Mountain the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Playa del Carmen vs Long Mountain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Long Mountain cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 37%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,381 in Long Mountain. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Long Mountain, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Long Mountain?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $33.00 in Long Mountain. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Long Mountain?
Groceries cost about 35% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Long Mountain?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Long Mountain, where all-in costs run around $920, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Long Mountain it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Long Mountain more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Long Mountain – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Long Mountain?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Long Mountain. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared